river who over charged a passenger for a three minute ride between the airport’s adjacent terminals.

Bong Ramon Leoligao was then charged with swindling, estafa, unjust vexation at the Pasay City Prosecutor’s Office for overcharging his passenger who was identified as Suzanne Nagac, an executive assistant of Melody “Mimi” Parrel Pimentel who is allegedly the fashion consultant of President Rodrigo Duterte.

According to Airport Police Officer II Roderrick Mejia, Nagac flagged down Leoligao’s taxi cab during the wee hours of Friday morning at the NAIA terminal 2. She then asked him to bring her to the adjoining NAIA terminal 3, a journey that would take between 2 to 3 minutes using the NAIA skyway during that time.

Mejia said that while traversing the MIAA Road, Leoligao asked Nagac to pay PhP600 plus the PhP45.00 skyway toll fee which she should immediately give before they pass the toll gate. He added that Nagac protested the costly fare but the suspect was adamant that she pay him the amount he demanded.

Fearing further confrontation, Nagac paid the amount upon reaching Terminal 3 where she also managed to jot down the taxi’s registration plate (TKY 962) and report the what happened to the authorities, the policeman added.

Mejia said that when they try to verify the status of the taxi, it was found out to be unregistered since 2007 and that the taxi’s registration plate number is registered to another vehicle. He added that subsequent police operations led to the arrest of the suspect, who was spotted while waiting for a passenger in Terminal 2 of the NAIA.

During a face off at the Airport PD intelligence office, Nagac positively identified Leoligao as the taxi driver who harassed and overcharged her.

Meanwhile, NAIA General Manager Ed Monreal ordered the Airport PD to surveil suspected unscrupulous individuals who were using public vehicles to prey innocent passengers at the airport.

Author: Benjie VergaraA veteran reporter covering the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila. He is currently writing for Manila Times, the Philippines' oldest newspaper.